Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev was born in the city of Baku on December 24, 1961.

He attended secondary school No. 6 in Baku from 1967 to 1977.

In 1977-1982, he studied at Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO). In 1982, he embarked on postgraduate studies at the Institute.

In 1985, he defended a thesis to receive a PhD degree in history.

From 1985 to 1990, Ilham Aliyev gave lectures at Moscow State Institute of International Relations.

From 1991 to 1994, he was engaged in the private business sector, running several industrial and commercial enterprises.

From 1994 to August 2003, he was vice-president and first vice-president of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR). He has been actively involved in the implementation of national leader Heydar Aliyev's oil strategy.

In 1995 and 2000, Ilham Aliyev was elected as a member of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

He has been president of the National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan since 1997.

In 1999, he was elected as deputy chairman, in 2001 as first deputy chairman and in 2005 as chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party.

From 2001 to 2003, Ilham Aliyev headed the Azerbaijani Parliamentary delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). In January 2003, he was elected as deputy chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and a member of the PACE Bureau.

On August 4, 2003, following the approval of the Milli Majlis, he was appointed as Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan. This terminated his power as a member of parliament.

On October 15, 2003, Ilham Aliyev was elected as President of the Republic of Azerbaijan with more than 76 percent of votes.

In 2004, he was awarded a medal and certificate of an honorary member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

On October 15, 2008, Ilham Aliyev gained 88.73 per cent of votes in the presidential election to be elected for the second term as President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

On October 9, 2013, Ilham Aliyev was re-elected as President of the Republic of Azerbaijan with 84.54 per cent of votes.

In the April 11, 2018 presidential election, Ilham Aliyev gained 86.02 percent of votes to be re-elected as President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

OrdersThe Star of Romania Order (October 11, 2004)King Abdul Aziz Order of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (March 8, 2005)The Order of Alexander Nevsky 1st class of the Academy of Problems of Security, Defense and Order of the Russian Federation (April 11, 2005)Heydar Aliyev Order of the Republic of Azerbaijan (April 28, 2005)Venerable Sergius of Radonezh Order 1st class of the Russian Orthodox Church (September 14, 2005)"Sheikhulislam" Order of the Caucasus Muslims Board (December 22, 2005)Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor of the French Republic (January 29, 2007)Grand Cross of Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland (February 26, 2008)Order of Prince Yaroslav Mudry 1st Class of Ukraine (May 22, 2008)Mubarak Al-Kabeer Order of the State of Kuwait (February 10, 2009)Order of the Three Stars (Commander of the Grand Cross) of the Latvian Republic (August 10, 2009)Order of Honor 1st class of the Russian Orthodox Church (April 24, 2010)The National Order "Faithful Service" in rank of Grand Cross Special Order of Romania (April 18, 2011)The National Order "Faithful Service" of Romania (April 18, 2011)Order of Stara Planina of the Republic of Bulgaria (November 14, 2011)Order of "Ismoili Somoni" of Tajikistan (July 12, 2012)Order of Friendship of Peoples of Belarus (August 28, 2012)Order of State of the Republic of Turkey (November 12, 2013)Order of Liberty of Ukraine (November 18, 2013)Honorary academic titlesHonorary Doctor of Moscow State University of International Relations (February 7, 2004)Honorary Professor of L. N. Gumilev Eurasian National University of Kazakhstan (March 1, 2004)Honorary Doctor of Kirikkale University of Turkey (March 25, 2004)Honorary Doctor of Bilkent University and Ihsan Dogramaci Prize for International Relations for Peace of Turkey (April 14, 2004)Honorary Doctor of Petroleum and Gas University of Ploesti of Romania (October 12, 2004)Honorary Professor of University of National and World Economy of Bulgaria (September 23, 2005)Honorary Doctor of Kyung Hee University of South Korea (April 24, 2007)Honorary Doctor of the University of Jordan (July 29, 2007)Honorary Doctor of Social Sciences of Corvinus University of Budapest of Hungary (February 18, 2008)Honorary Professor of Moscow State University of the Russian Federation (February 21, 2008)Honorary Doctor of Kiev National University named after Taras Shevchenko of Ukraine (May 22, 2008)Honorary Professor of State University named after Makhtumkuli of Turkmenistan (November 28, 2008)Honorary Doctor of Baku State University of Azerbaijan (November 2, 2009)Honorary Professor of Belarus State University (November 12, 2009)Honorary Doctor of Tajik National University (October 16, 2014)Honorary Professor of History of Renmin University of China (December 11, 2015)Awards from sports organizations6th Dan Black Belt and certificate of World Taekwondo Federation (October 10, 2003)Special Award of the International Wrestling Federation (FILA) (April 3, 2004)Olympic Order of the International Olympic Committee (April 19, 2004)Special Award of the European Amateur Boxing Association (May 1, 2004)"Grand Cordon" Order of Merit of the International Military Sport Council (May 27, 2005)Honorary decoration of the International Confederation of Sport Organizations of CIS countries (September 26, 2005)"Sport Legend" Order of the International Wrestling Federation (FILA) (September 17, 2007)The highest award of Belarus National Olympic Committee (October 26, 2007)Olympic Order of Azerbaijan National Olympic Committee (December 27, 2007)Honorary Diploma of 9th Dan of the World Karate Federation (March 20, 2008)Badge of Honor of the European Fair Play Movement (May 15, 2009)Paralympic Honor award of the International Paralympic Committee (June 26, 2015)